TOURE hopes to move a step closer to achieving his dream when City welcome Barcelona to the Etihad in the first leg of their last-16 clash tonight.

YAYA TOURE has put winning the Champions League with Manchester City above reclaiming the Premier League title.

City remain on course for an unprecedented quadruple of the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup this season, which would eclipse Manchester United’s treble triumph of 1999.

But
Toure, who won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2009 before joining City for £24million the next year, insists European success means more to him than domestic glory.

And
he hopes to take a huge step closer to another Euro triumph by beating his old club in the first leg of their last-16 clash tonight.

The
midfielder said: “In England the main objective is to win the Premier League. But for me the Champions League is exceptional.

“If I had the chance to win the Champions League rather than the Premier League I would jump on that.

“The Champions League is our objective. My objective and the club’s objective is to go as far as possible in this competition.

“I’m
very happy with the evolution of the team. We’ve been unlucky to be drawn against Barcelona but we’re learning a lot under our new coach and
the team is going very well.

“If we manage to knock out Barcelona we will take huge confidence from that.”

It
is a measure of Toure’s standing at his former club that Barca fans voted him the one City player they would have in their team – ahead of Sergio Aguero, David Silva or Vincent Kompany.

In the absence of the injured Aguero,
Toure will assume the role of City’s most influential player tonight, charged with the task of suppressing Barca’s brilliant playmakers.

Despite his impressive form over the past four seasons Toure has come in for some
criticism, with former Liverpool and City midfielder Didi Hamann calling him a “defensive liability”.

The
Ivory Coast star will have to curb his natural attacking instincts tonight and adopt a more defensive-minded approach, unable to push forward with the freedom he enjoys every week in the Premier League. But
Toure rejects criticism of his style and is adamant the most effective way to answer his detractors is on the pitch.

He said: “They are not important people. The most important thing is what my manager tells me to do.

“It
doesn’t matter who wants to continue to criticise me as I just want to focus on the game. When we lose we are the worst team – and I’m the worst player especially – but when we win I’m the best in the team.

“Sometimes
you have to give your answer to these people with your football. Liability or no liability, I’ve been playing for a long time.”

Despite
Barca’s array of glittering talent, led by three-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, Toure insists City must remember they have players capable of hurting the Catalan giants.

The 30-year-old said: “We have the quality and temperament to do that. But it’s not going to be easy over two legs.

“We know how difficult it will be but we’re really focused on this game and we’re ready.

“Messi,
Xavi and Iniesta can make a difference at any time but we are playing the first game at home and have players who can do damage.”

Despite
coming up against his former club Toure believes he has nothing to prove and insists his success since joining City has justified his decision to leave the Nou Camp four years ago.

He said: “I won a lot of trophies with Barcelona but it was the right time to move on.

“We are going the right way at City and have a new manager who is helping us play fantastic football.”

Toure
won the treble of La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey with Barca
in 2009 but wants to go one better this season by scooping the quadruple with City.

He said: “Anything is possible and we’re still in all four competitions. I know it’s going to be difficult but we believe and will never stop.”